Christ’s method of answering the question as to whether His ministry possessed the proper qualifications or not, was to have His inquirers observe Him conduct a healing service!
Jesus reached the people through healing.
The elements of such a revival are all found in the 4th and 5th chapters of Acts:
1. A revival where thousands were getting saved (Acts 4:4).
2. Judgment on wicked persons.
3. Gifts of healing being manifest through certain individuals—Peter in this case.
4. Multitudes coming in from cities round about to attend the healing campaign and bringing their sick with them.
5. Mass healings of the sick.
6. Fierce opposition arising from the jealous clergy.
7. A refusal by God’s ministers to give heed to the threatening’s of men, and their continued fearless preaching.
Distinguishing Feature of these Revivals?
What then is the distinguishing feature of the revivals, other than the ministry of healing?
1. Is it some new doctrine? Emphatically, No! God owes nothing to any man.
2. This is a day when the glory of this visitation belongs to Christ and not to man.
3. The anointing of God will permanently rest upon man:
• in the proportion that he will repudiate his own ego,
• take no glory for himself, and
• be content humbly to participate in the Divine visitation.
• The fact is that the doctrines of any great revival have long been established and integrated into the faith.
4. The real distinguishing feature of revivals lies in the boldness of the men who minister, and the demonstration of the power of God.
5. Healing revivals never became a vital tool of the of these revivals, due to actual enquiry, it was discovered that well over 99 per cent of the average audience had never seen a miracle.
6. Fear of failure made the average preacher too timid to challenge the promises of God to that extent.
7. There is nothing so convincing as a demonstration of the power of God, and it is this demonstration that draws the large audiences (ICor. 2:4-5).
The relation of unity in the Church to the healing of its members is more important than i